KYM Review: Animal Memes of 2015

Editor’s Note: This article is part of Know Your Meme’s annual Top Ten Review series looking back at some of the most memorable and popular memes, events and people that defined the Internet culture in 2015 as we know it.

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ute animals belong on the short list of subjects that will likely remain popular online until the end of humanity as we know it. While cats still remain a dominate force in this area, other animals have made enormous strides in competing for our attention online.

Advice animals are becoming less culturally relevant with each passing year, but the Seal of Approval series saw a significant boost in popularity on Reddit. Additionally, the photoshop meme Overly Excited Dog made its debut on /r/aww, where Redditors share the most disgustingly adorable photographs they can find.

In France, an animal rights group were caught on camera stealing a puppy from a homeless man, causing an enormous backlash on the French web. Additionally, French activists from the Bird Protection League drew the ire of a shovel-wielding man in his underwear, launching the infamous Slipgate photoshop meme.

Former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin made headlines after posting a photograph of her son using the family dog as a step stool, drawing criticism for animal rights activists who disapproved of her parenting skills.

In no particular order, here are the top 10 animal-related memes that hit the web this past year.

Shabani the Gorilla

Species: Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) Debut: October 1996 Breakout: 名古屋のイケメンゴリラ | YouTube Profile: Western lowland silverback gorilla from the Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya, Japan. Has a substantial online following in Japan among young women. Known for being exceptionally photogenic. Primary Habitat: Twitter Highlights: Gorilla Munch comparison | People Magazine cover

Smol

Species: A variety of small, cute species Debut: Late spring 2015 Breakout: 20 Baby Animals That Are Too Smol | BuzzFeed Profile: Adorably tiny, diminutive creatures known for eliciting a nurture response in humans. Primary Habitat: Tumblr | DeviantArt Highlights: Chameleons | Snake | Sugar Glider

Limberbutt McCubbins

Species: Cat (Felis catus) Debut: May 2015 Breakout: Presidential election candidacyt | FEC Profile: Domestic cat from Louisville, Kentucky and Democratic candidate in the 2016 United States presidential election. Primary Habitat: Facebook Highlights: Public Radio Segment | Hope Poster Parody

Beast the Dog

Species: Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) Debut: March 2011 Breakout: Mark Zuckerberg's Instagram Profile: Mark Zuckerberg's Puli Hungarian sheep dog. Known for his long, curly coat of fur resembling a canine rastafarian. Primary Habitat: Facebook: 2.2 million likes Highlights: Taiwanese Animators' Video | Jumping Photograph

Earl the Grumpy Puppy

Species: Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) Debut: June 2015 Breakout: /r/aww | Reddit Profile: A Puggle (pug-beagle hybrid) dog known for its irritated-looking facial expressions. Primary Habitat: Reddit Highlights: On Fetching | Samuel Jackson Face Swap

Tonkey Bear

Also known as: Bear Coat Tonkey Species: Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) Debut: May 2015 Breakout: First Instagram portrait photograph Profile: Beat coat Shar Pei from Edmonton, Canada. Known for his large head, fluffy fur and bear-like appearance. Primary Habitat: Instagram: 366,000 followers Highlights: In a Sink | Shopping Cart | Taking a Bath

Sleep Tight Pupper

Also Known As: "Good Sleep Chihuahua" Species: Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) Debut: May 2015 Breakout: 4chan post Profile: A tiny chihuahua that snuggles under the covers while laying in bed. Is a "pupper." Primary Habitat: 4chan Highlights: Good Sleep White Wolf | Good Sleep Squid | Good Sleep Ren

Cats vs. Cucumbers

Species: Cat (Felis catus) Debut: May 2015 Breakout: きゅうりにびっくりする猫 Profile: Domestic cats that are terrified of long cylindrical shaped gourds. Have a tendency to perform spectacular acrobatic maneuvers when startled. Primary Habitat: Reddit | YouTube Highlights: Glitch Cat | Cat Scared of Cucumber

WeaselPecker

Species: Weasel (Mustela nivalis) and European green woodpecker (Picus viridis) Debut: March 2015 Breakout: Jason Ward's tweet Profile: A weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker in mid-flight. Was last seen flying around Essex, London. Primary Habitat: Twitter Highlights: Creepy Travolta | Meme Overload | Kim Jong-un | Paula Deen

Pizza Rat

Species: Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) Debut: November 2012 Breakout: New York City rat taking pizza home on the subway | YouTube Profile: A medium-sized New York City rat who likes to eat pizza. Hangs out around subway platforms on the L train line. Primary Habitat: Twitter | Facebook | NYC subways Highlights: Halloween Costume |